Latch for floor polisher handle



DeC# 13, 1956 H. F. DOERSAM 3,291,540

LATCH FOR FLOOR POLISHER HANDLE Filed June 22, 1964 |e'5 "lIIlh, "HIII $7 Allin.. ,mmm LJ...

ATTORNEY nited States Patent 3,291,540 LATCH FOR FLOOR POLISHER HANDLE Henry F. Doersam, North Olmsted, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed June 22, 1964, Ser. No. 376,891 2 Claims. (Cl. 306-13) This invention relates to a latch for a floor polisher handle and, more particularly, to a latch for securing a handle from movement relative to a floor polisher.

Conventional floor polishers generally include a pair of rotating circular brushes mounted below a base plate. An electric motor is mounted above the base plate and drives the brushes through suitable gear and shaft arrangements which project downwardly through the base plate. For the convenience of the operator, a handle is pivotally mounted to the base plate and extends upwardly so that the operator can maneuver the polisher while standing upright.

When storing the polisher, it is desirable to have the handle remain fixed in an upwardly disposed position without having to prop the handle against a wall of a storage closet. With the handle maintained upwardly disposed, the polisher is more easily grasped and more easily stored. Also, it is often desirable to lift the polisher while maintaining the Hat surfaces of the brushes in a horizontally disposed position. For this purpose, the handle must remain fixed in an upwardly disposed yposition relative to the polisher and the brushes. l

The present invention enables storage of a floor polisher with the handle maintained in an upwardly disposed position while still enabling full freedom of movement of the handle during the normal polishing operations.

It is therefore an object f this invention to provide a latch for securing a floor -polisher handle in a vertical position during storage while permitting easy release for full freedom of movement during normal operation.

Another object is to provide a latch for a floor polisher handle which enjoys convenient foot actuation.

In carrying out this invention in one form thereof, a floor polisher handle is pivotally mounted on a bracket secured to the floor polisher base to allow for full freedom of movement during normal operation. The handle is held in a Vertical position for storage by a spring biased pivoted latch which engages a slot in the handle. The handle is provided with a cam surface in the region of the latch projection so that the latch may be engaged merely by pivoting the handle to a vertical position. To release the handle, an outwardly extending pedal is provided on the latch for foot operation to pivot the latch against the spring bias and out of engagement with the handle slot, thereby releasing the handle from :its latched position.

For a better understanding of this invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a lloor polisher with a portion of the casing removed to reveal the latch mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the polisher with a portion of the casing removed to reveal the latch mechanism when in a latched position.

FIG. 3 is a side view with a portion of the casing removed to reveal the latch mechanism when in an un- ICC latched position, with the latched position shown in phantorn.

Referring to FIG. 1, a floor polisher 1 is illustrated having a pair of circular brushes 2 mounted for rotation below a base plate 3. A bracket 4 is secured to the base plate 3 and a tubular handle 5 is pivotally secured to the bracket 4 to provide full freedom of movement of the handle to a variety of positions during normal operation of the floor polisher.

A latch means is provided for securing the handle 5 from movement relative to the bracket 4 when the handle is pivoted to a vertical position. The latch means is more clearly indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The bracket 4 is shown with the handle 5v pivotally secured thereto by a handle pivot pin 6 disposed through the handle 5 and the portion of the bracket 4 adjacent the base plate 3. A latch arm 7 is pivotally secured to the bracket by a latch pivot pin 8 which extends through the latch arm and engages an extension 9 from the bracket. The bracket extension 9 is bent so that it projects perpendicular to the path of movement of the handle, and the latch arm 7 is pivoted to the bracket extension 9 so that the latch arm rotates perpendicular to the path of rotation of the handle. The latch arm 7 has a latch projection 10 extending therefrom which is pivotable into the path of rotation of the handle. The tubular handle has a wall portion 11 which defines the handle path of rotation into which the latch projection 10 extends. The handle wall 11 contains a handle slot 12 for receiving the latch projection 10 when the handle is positioned adjacent the latch arm. In lieu of the slot, the latch projection may be arranged to engage the natural curvilinear surface of the handle or an indentation thereon for securing the handle from rotational movement relative to the polisher.

To urge the latch arm 7 to pivot the latch projection 10 into the path of rotation of the handle, a spring 13 is positioned between the bracket and the latch arm and biases the latch arm toward the path of rotation of the handle. The spring 13 is maintained in engagement with the bracket by an extension of the latch pivot pin 8 which projects through the bracket and into the coiled portion of the spring. The spring 13 is also maintained in engagement with the latch arm by a spring-mount projection 14 extending from the latch arm.

The latch projection 10 is engaged in the handle slot 12 by pivoting the handle to a vertical position. The natural curvilinear surface of the tubular handle wall11 forces the latch arm out of the path of t-he handle until the slot 12 is positioned adjacent the projection 1t), at which time the projection 10 is biased therein by the spring`13.

In order to pivot the latch projection out of the slot for unlatching the handle, an actuator pedal 1S on the latch arm projects outwardly through an aperture in the floor polisher cover 16, By foot actuation of the pedal 15, the latch arm 7 is pivoted against the bias of the spring 13 so that the latch projection 10 is withdrawnfrom the handle slot 12 and the handle is thereby'rendered free to move relative to the floor polisher.

To limit rotation of the latch arm 7 by the biasing force of the spring 13, limit engagement means are provided in the form of a guide projection 17 on thelatch arm, and a base plate slot 18 positioned vwithin the base plate portion below the latch arm. The guideprojection 17 `and the base plate slot 18 are arranged to limitrotation of the latch arm 7 to a point where the latch projection 10 extends into the path of rotation of the tubular handle wall 11. Rotation of the latch arm is limited in the opposite direction by engagement of a shoulder 19 on the latch arm, adjacent the guide projection 17, with the top surface of the base plate 3. The shoulder 19 is positioned to limit rotation of the latch arm after the latch projection has been pivoted out of the path of the handle.

While operating the polisher, the handle s generally disposed at an angle to the polisher base plate and the tubular wall portion of the handle is not in the region of the latch projection so that the handle is free to move relative to the polisher. When the handle is moved to a vertical position, the natural curvilinear surface of the tubular handle wall in the region of the latch projection operates as a cam surface for engaging the latch projection which extends into the path of rotation of the handle. In the event that a nontubular handle is used, any convenient cam surface on the handle in the region of the latch projection will perform the same function. The latch projection and the latch .arm are forcibly rotated by the curvilinear cam surface of the handle against the biasing force of the spring until the latch projection is forced out of the path of the rotating handle. When the handle is disposed substantially in a vertical position, the latch projection is biased into engagement with the handle slot and secures the handle in the vertical position.

Release of the handle is accomplished by foot actuation of the actuator pedal which pivots the latch projection out of the handle slot and renders the handle free to move relative to the polisher.

By employing the above-disclosed latch for a floor polisher handle, the handle may be selectively secured in a vertical position, and, thus, enable storage of the polisher without having to prop the handle against a wall, and enable lifting of the polisher while maintaining the dat surfaces of the brushes in a horizontally disposed position. The handle is easily released for full freedom of movement duringfloor polisher operation by foot actuation of the release pedal projecting outwardly from the floor polisher.

While a specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the particular construction shown and described, and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A latch mechanism for selectively securing a floor polisher handle from movement relative to a floor polisher comprising:

(a) an integrally formed bracket having a generally at base portion, two opposed upwardly extending side wall portions arranged generally perpendicular to said base portion and an outwardly projecting extension integrally formed with one of said upwardly extending side wall portions, said extension being positioned above said base portion and arranged generally perpendicular to said one of said upwardly extending side wall portions, opposed apertures formed in each of said upwardly extending side wall portions, said apertures being located between said outwardly projecting extension and said iiat Abase portion;

(b) a generally cylindrical oor polisher handle having aperture means formed in a lower portion thereof and a slot extending through a generally cylindrical wall thereof;

(c) a pivot pin extending through the aperture means in said handle into apertures in said upwardly extending side wall portions for rotatably securing said handle to said bracket;

(d) an integrally formed latch lever having a downwardly extending arm and an outwardly extending latch projection, said latch being pivoted to said bracket extension for rotation in a plane substantially perpendicular to the path of rotation of said handle;

(e) a compression spring mounted between the downwardly extending arm of said latch and said one of said upwardly extending side wall portions of said bracket, said spring surrounding said pivot pin for securely holding said spring in position between said bracket and said latch, said spring constantly urging said outwardly projecting latch arm into the path of said generally cylindrical handle so that as said handle is moved to its upright position the end of said outwardly extending latch arm slides on said generally cylindrical surface until the end of the latch projection is in line with the slot formed in said handle and said compression spring then forces said latch projection into said slot for securely holding said handle in an upright position; and

(f) an outwardly extending actuating arm on said latch lever so that downward movement of said actu-ating arm will move said latch lever against the compression of said spring to thereby remove said latch projection from said slot to permit movement of said handle to any one of a plurality of positions.

2. A latch mechanism for selectively securing a floor polisher handle from movement relative to a oor polisher comprising:

(a) a generally horizontal door polisher base plate having a transverse slot formed therein;

(b) Ian integrally formed bracket having a generally flat base portion iixed to said base plate on one side of said slot, two opposed upwardly extending side wall portions arranged generally perpendicular to said base portion and an outwardly projecting extension integrally formed with one of said upwardly extending side wall portions, said extension being positioned above said base portion and arranged generally perpendicular to said one of said upwardly extending side wall portions, opposed apertures formed in each of said upwardly extending side wall portions, said apertures being located between said outwardly projecting extension and said dat base portion;

(c) a generally cylindrical door polisher handle having aperture means formed in a lower portion thereof and a slot extending through a generally cylindrical wall thereof;

(d) a pivot pin extending through the aperture means in said handle into apertures in said upwardly extending side wall portions for rotatably securing said handle to said bracket;

(e) an integrally formed latch lever having a downwardly extending arm Iand an outwardly extending latch projection, said arm being positioned in the slot formed in said generally horizontal base plate, and said latch being pivoted to said bracket extension for rotation in a plane substantially perpendicular to the path of rotation of said handle;

(f) a compression spring mounted between the downwardly extending arm of said latch and said one of said upwardly extending side wall portions of said bracket, said spring surrounding said pivot pin for securely holding said spring in position between said bracket and said latch; said spring constantly urging said downwardly extending arm away from said bracket so that the downwardly extending arm normally engages one end of the slot formed in said base plate to prevent further rotation of said latch lever by said spring, said spring constantly urging said outwardly projecting latch arm into the path of said generally cylindrical handle so that as said handle is moved to its upright position the end of said outwardly extending latch arm slides on said generally cylindrical surface until the end of the latch projection is in line with the slot formed in said handle and 5f 6 said compression spring then forces said latch pro- Reerences Cited bythe Examiner jection into said slot for securely holding said handle l UNITED STATES PATENTS in an upright position; and

compression of said spring to thereby remove said latch projection from said slot in said handle to permit CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner. movement of said handle to any one of a plurality of T At LISLE ASSI-Smm Examinepositions. 10 

1. A LATCH MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVELY SECURING A FLOOR POLISHER HANDLE FROM MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO A FLOOR POLISHER COMPRISING: (A) AN INTEGRALLY FORMED BRACKED HAVING A GENERALLY FLAT BASE PORTION, TWO OPPOSED UPWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE WALL PORTIONS ARRANGED GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID BASE PORTION AND AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING EXTENDSION INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH ONE OF SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE WALL PORTIONS, SAID EXTENSION BEING POSITIONED ABOVE SAID BASE PORTION AND ARRANGED GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID ONE OF SAID OUTWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE WALL PORTIONS, OPPOSED APERTURES FORMED IN EACH OF SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE WALL PORTIONS, SAID APERTURES BEING LOCATED BETWEEN SAID OUTWARDLY PROJECTING EXTENSION AND SAID FLAT BASE PORTION; (B) A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL FLOOR POLISHER HANDLE HAVING APERTURE MEANS FORMED IN A LOWER PORTION THEREOF AND A SLOT EXTENDING THROUGH A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL WALL THEREOF; (C) A PIVOT PIN EXTENDING THROUGH THE APERTURE MEANS IN SAID HANDLE INTO APERTURES IN SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE WALL PORTIONS FOR ROTATABLY SECURING SAID HANDLE TO SAID BRACKET; (D) AN INTEGRALLY FORMED LATCH LEVER HAVING A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING ARM AND AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING LATCH PROJECTION, SAID LATCH BEING PIVOTED TO SAID BRACKET EXTENSION FOR ROTATION IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE PATH OF ROTATION OF SAID HANDLE; (E) A COMPRSSION SPRING MOUNTED BETWEEN THE DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING ARM OF SAID LATCH AND SAID ONE OF SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE WALL PORTIONS OF SAID BRACKET, SAID SPRING SURROUNDING SAID PIVOT PIN FOR SECURELY HOLDING SAID SPRING IN POSITION BETWEEN SAID BRACKET AND SAID LATCH, SAID SPRING CONSTANTLY URGING SAID OUTWARDLY PROJECTING LATCH ARM INTO THE PATH OF SAID GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL HANDLE SO THAT AS SAID HANDLE IS MOVED TO ITS UPRIGHT POSITION THE END OF SAID OUTWARDLY EXTENDING LATCH ARM SLIDES ON SAID GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL SURFACE UNTIL THE END OF THE LATCH PROJECTION IS IN LINE WITH THE SLOT FORMED IN SAID HANDLE AND SAID COMPRESSION SPRING THEN FORCES SAID LATCH PROJECTION INTO SAID SLOT FOR SECURELY HOLDING SAID HANDLE IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION; AND (F) AN OUTWARDLY MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING LEVER SO THAT DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING ARM WILL MOVE SAID LATCH LEVER AGAINST THE COMPRESSION OF SAID SPRING TO THEREBY REMOVE SAID LATCH PROJECTION FROM SAID SLOT TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE TO ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS. 